Zucchini hybrid sv9441yg and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a zucchini plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another zucchini plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and theinbred zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a zucchini plant of thehybrid designated SV9441YG, the zucchini line ZGN-166-8042 or zucchiniline CAS-46-100. Also provided are zucchini plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these zucchini plants are also provided, for example, includingpollen, an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of zucchini hybrid SV9441YGand/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and/orzucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and/orzucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. The zucchini seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofzucchini seed of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. Essentially homogeneous populations of seedare generally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore,seed of hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 andCAS-46-100 may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the totalseed, including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of zucchini plants designated SV9441YG and/or zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a zucchini plant of hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating zucchini plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SV9441YGand/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides zucchiniplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing zucchini seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent zucchini plant with a second parentzucchini plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parentzucchini plants is a plant of zucchini line ZGN-166-8042 or zucchiniline CAS-46-100. These processes may be further exemplified as processesfor preparing hybrid zucchini seed or plants, wherein a first zucchiniplant is crossed with a second zucchini plant of a different, distinctgenotype to provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant ofzucchini line ZGN-166-8042 or zucchini line CAS-46-100. In theseprocesses, crossing will result in the production of seed. The seedproduction occurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent zucchini plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent zucchini plants into plants that bear flowers. A thirdstep may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent zucchini plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent zucchini plants.The harvested seed can be grown to produce a zucchini plant or hybridzucchini plant.

The present invention also provides the zucchini seeds and plantsproduced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent zucchiniplant with a second parent zucchini plant, wherein at least one of thefirst or second parent zucchini plants is a plant of zucchini hybridSV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. In oneembodiment of the invention, zucchini seed and plants produced by theprocess are first generation (F₁) hybrid zucchini seed and plantsproduced by crossing a plant in accordance with the invention withanother, distinct plant. The present invention further contemplatesplant parts of such an F₁ hybrid zucchini plant, and methods of usethereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the inventionprovide an F₁ hybrid zucchini plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchinilines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SV9441YG and/orzucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. The plant derived fromhybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 may bean inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of zucchinihybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one zucchini from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofzucchini hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 andCAS-46-100 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to referto the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of whichsequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a zucchiniplant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thusrepresents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybridgenetic complement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell,tissue or plant. The invention thus provides zucchini plant cells thathave a genetic complement in accordance with the zucchini plant cellsdisclosed herein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042and CAS-46-100 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by zucchini plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a zucchini plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second zucchini plant, preferably, another, distinctzucchini plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides azucchini plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybridgenetic complement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG, zucchini lineZGN-166-8042 and zucchini line CAS-46-100.

The female parent CAS-46-100 is a well adapted line with a goodcombinability, while the male line ZGN-166-8042 is a elite line withgood fruit quality and intermediate resistance against Powdery Mildew.

SV9441YG, also known as PX 16699441, is a zucchini hybrid variety withan intermediate level of resistance to Powdery Mildew. The plants arevery compact, with short internodes, making it unnecessary for thegrower to use plant growth regulators in order to contain the plant. Thefruit is dark green with a strong flower attachment. The variety hasdouble attitude: the fruits can be sold with and without the flower(different markets). Hybrid SV9441YG shares at least one common parentwith Ipanema, Consul, and SV9480YG.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Zucchini Hybrid SV9441YG

The parents of hybrid SV9441YG are ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. Theseparents were created as follows:

Zucchini line CAS-46-100 is a Caserta type Powdery Mildew susceptibleline with good combinability previously used in hybrids such as Consuland Ipanema.

Zucchini line ZGN-166-8042 was developed through Powdery Mildewscreening and selection in the years 2007-2009.

A three-way cross, followed by a back cross, was made in order to createa zucchini population including good fruit quality and Powdery Mildewresistance. This male parent was developed starting from this originalpopulation through five cycles of Powdery Mildew screening andselections. At the end of this breeding process two lines weredeveloped. ZGN-166-8042 was the one with medium long fruit, anintermediate level of resistance to Powdery Mildew and a strong flowerattachment.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Zucchini HybridSV9441YG, Zucchini Line ZGN-166-8042 and Zucchini Line CAS-46-100

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-2.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridSV9441YG Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC SV9441YG President 1. SpeciesPepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type winter (Boston summer(vegetable marrow) marrow) 4. Cotyledon length 71.6 mm 69.4 mm width30.8 mm 32.06 mm  apex rounded rounded veining prominent Prominent;Plainly Visible color light green light green color (RHS Color Chart)143C 143C 5. Mature Plant growth habit semi-bush semi-bush plant typeprickly prickly 6. Main Stem cross-section shape angled angled diameterat mid-point of 27.93 mm  20.81 mm  1^(st) internode average length97.73 cm 92.33 cm average number of 55.53 49.93 internodes 7. Leavesblade shape ovate ovate blade form deep lobed deep lobed margindenticulate denticulate margin edges frilled frilled average width 50.17cm 59.17 cm average length 41.75 cm 42.86 cm leaf surface smooth smoothdorsal surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy vental surfacepubescence soft hairy soft hairy color dark green dark green color (RHSColor Chart) N137A N137A leaf blotching blotched with gray blotched withgray average petiole length 52.82 cm  64.3 cm 8. Flower pistillateflower: average 18.49 cm 20.19 diameter pistillate flower: ovarydrum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average  1.96 cm 1.9 pedicellength pistillate flower: margin straight straight shape pistillateflower: margin frilled frilled edges pistillate flower: average 11.4 mm11.13 mm  sepal width pistillate flower: average 10.26 mm   9.2 mm sepallength pistillate flower: color orange orange pistillate flower: color17A 17A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower: average 17.2 mm 19.06 mm sepal length staminate flower: average 11.53 mm  11.66 mm  sepal widthstaminate flower: average 201.66 mm  219.86 mm  pedicel length staminateflower: color orange orange 9. Fruit market maturity: average 18.68 cm20.175 length market maturity: average  3.39 cm 3.375 width-stem end atmarket maturity:  4.23 cm  4.35 cm average width-blossom end marketmaturity: average 235 gm 259.25 gm weight market maturity: shapeZUCCHINI ZUCCHINI according to variety type market maturity: apexrounded rounded market maturity: base rounded rounded market maturity:ribs inconspicuous inconspicuous market maturity: rib medium deepshallow furrow depth market maturity: rib medium wide narrow furrowwidth market maturity: fruit smooth smooth surface market maturity:warts none none market maturity: blossom slightly extended slightlyextended scar button 10. Rind average thickness at 2.22 mm 1.825 mm medial toughness hard hard overall color pattern regular regular main orground color Green Green main or ground color 137B 137B (RHS ColorChart) 11. Flesh average blossom end 4.84 mm 5.325 mm  thickness averagemedial thickness 5.82 mm 5.85 mm average stem end 7.36 mm 7.15 mmthickness texture (fine, granular, fine fine lumpy or stringy) texture(soft, firm or soft soft brittle) texture (dry, moist or moist moist;juicy juicy) flavor insipid slightly sweet quality good good colorYellowish buff Yellowish buff color (RHS Color Chart) 4D 150D 12. SeedCavity average length 35.92 cm 36.04 cm average width  6.62 cm  6.44 cmlocation conforms to fruit shape apex only placental tissue abundantabundant center core prominent prominent 13. Fruit Stalks average length 2.62 cm  2.17 cm average diameter  2.51 cm  2.12 cm cross-section shapeirregular irregular twisting not twisted twisted tapering not taperednot tapered straightness slightly curved curved texture hard hardfurrows deep deep surface smooth spiny detaches with difficulty easilycolor light green medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 143A 143B 14.Seeds average length 13.1 mm   12 mm average width   8 mm  7.5 mmaverage thickness  1.1 mm  1.3 mm face surface smooth smooth colorcream_buff cream_buff color (RHS Color Chart) 160D 160D luster dull dullmargin curved curved margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulpdifficult difficult average grams per 100  4 gm    5 gm seeds averagenumber of seeds 290 326 per fruit seed coat normal normal *These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values thatare substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineZGN-166-8042 CHARACTERISTIC ZGN 166-8042 1. Species Pepo 2. Kind/Usesquash 3. Type winter (Boston marrow) 4. Cotyledon length 66.46 mm width35.26 mm apex rounded veining prominent color medium green color (RHSColor Chart) 143A 5. Mature Plant growth habit semi-bush plant typepilose 6. Main Stem cross-section shape angled diameter at mid-point of1^(st) internode 18.36 mm average length 67.13 cm average number ofinternodes 48.6 7. Leaves blade shape ovate blade form shallow lobedmargin Denticulate/dentate margin edges frilled average width 47.64 cmaverage length 41.52 cm leaf surface smooth dorsal surface pubescencesoft hairy vental surface pubescence soft hairy color medium green color(RHS Color Chart) N137A leaf blotching not blotched average petiolelength 50.84 cm 8. Flower pistillate flower: average diameter 16.84 cmpistillate flower: ovary drum-like pistillate flower: average pedicellength  2.78 cm pistillate flower: margin shape curved pistillateflower: margin edges frilled pistillate flower: average sepal width11.13 mm pistillate flower: average sepal length  9.06 mm pistillateflower: color orange pistillate flower: color (RHS Color Chart) 17Astaminate flower: average sepal length 11.13 mm staminate flower:average sepal width  10.8 mm staminate flower: average pedicel length167.4 mm staminate flower: color orange Staminate Flower: color (RHSColor Chart 17A values for flower color) 9. Fruit market maturity:average length 17.74 cm market maturity: average width-stem end  4.31 cmat market maturity: average width-blossom  4.06 cm end market maturity:average weight 246.33 gm market maturity: shape according to varietyZUCCHINI type market maturity: apex flattened market maturity: baserounded market maturity: ribs inconspicuous market maturity: rib furrowdepth medium deep market maturity: rib furrow width medium wide marketmaturity: fruit surface smooth market maturity: warts none marketmaturity: blossom scar button raised acron 10. Rind average thickness atmedial  2.44 mm toughness soft overall color pattern regular main orground color Green main or ground color (RHS Color Chart) N137A 11.Flesh average blossom end thickness  4.74 mm average medial thickness 7.32 mm average stem end thickness 8.74 texture (fine, granular, lumpyor stringy) fine texture (soft, firm or brittle) firm texture (dry,moist or juicy) moist flavor insipid quality good color yellowish buffcolor (RHS Color Chart) 150D 12. Seed Cavity average length 34.13 cmaverage width  9.47 cm location conforms to fruit shape placental tissueabundant center core prominent 13. Fruit Stalks average length  3.36 cmaverage diameter  2.82 cm cross-section shape irregular twisting twistedtapering Not tapered straightness slightly curved texture hard furrowsdeep surface smooth detaches with difficulty color light green color(RHS Color Chart) 143B 14. Seeds average length  12.1 mm average width   8 mm average thickness  2.2 mm face surface smooth color cream, buffcolor (RHS Color Chart) 160D luster dull margin curved margin edgerounded separation from pulp difficult average grams per 100 seeds    8gm average number of seeds per fruit 405 seed coat normal *These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values thatare substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Zucchini Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof zucchini hybrid SV9441YG involving crossing zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. Alternatively, in other embodiments of theinvention, hybrid SV9441YG, line ZGN-166-8042, or line CAS-46-100 may becrossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be usedfor propagation of hybrid SV9441YG and/or the zucchini linesZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100, or can be used to produce plants that arederived from hybrid SV9441YG and/or the zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 andCAS-46-100. Plants derived from hybrid SV9441YG and/or the zucchinilines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 may be used, in certain embodiments,for the development of new zucchini varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SV9441YG followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV9441YG and/or zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100 for thepurpose of developing novel zucchini lines, it will typically bepreferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one ormore selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofzucchini plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid SV9441YG exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 and CAS-46-100. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid SV9441YG and zucchini lines ZGN-166-8042 andCAS-46-100 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performancetraits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

TABLE 4 Comparisons of Performance Characteristics For Hybrid SV9441YGand Selected Varieties Variety Yield (gm/plant) Yield (fruits/plant)SYBILLA 2388 12 PRESIDENT 1782 9 SV9441YG 2460 12

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those zucchini plants which are developed by aplant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalzucchini plant which contributes the locus for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental zucchini plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a zucchini plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny zucchini plants of a backcross in which aplant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desiredtrait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of zucchini the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of zucchini plants for breeding is not necessarily dependenton the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S);1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a zucchini plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a zucchini plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125,1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a zucchinivariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a zucchini plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and inbred parent lineZGN-166-8042, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been madewith the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit were Sep. 25, 2012,and Oct. 4, 2012, respectively. The accession numbers for thosedeposited seeds of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG and inbred parent lineZGN-166-8042 are ATCC Accession No. PTA-13239, ATCC Accession No.PTA-13142, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictionsupon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meetall of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will bemaintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years afterthe last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A zucchini plant comprising at least a first setof the chromosomes of zucchini line ZGN-166-8042, a sample of seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13142.2. A seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of zucchiniline ZGN-166-8042, a sample of seed of said line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-13142.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which isinbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is hybrid.
 5. The seed of claim2, which is inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which is hybrid.
 7. Theplant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is zucchini hybrid SV9441YG,a sample of seed of said hybrid SV9441YG having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-13239.
 8. The seed of claim 6, defined as aseed of zucchini hybrid SV9441YG, a sample of seed of said hybridSV9441YG having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13239. 9.The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed of line ZGN-166-8042.
 10. A plantpart of the plant of claim
 1. 11. The plant part of claim 10, furtherdefined as a leaf, an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. A zucchiniplant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe zucchini plant of claim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cellsof the plant of claim
 1. 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13,comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from thegroup consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves,anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. Azucchini plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 13. 16. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1 comprising thesteps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plantaccording to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferatedshoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rootedplantlets.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising growing atleast a first plant from said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method ofintroducing a desired trait into a zucchini line comprising: (a)crossing a plant of line ZGN-166-8042 with a second zucchini plant thatcomprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13142;(b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c)backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of line ZGN-166-8042to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprisingthe desired trait and the physiological and morphological characteristicof zucchini line ZGN-166-8042; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) threeor more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progenythat comprise the desired trait.
 19. A zucchini plant produced by themethod of claim
 18. 20. A method of producing a plant comprising anadded trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferringthe trait into a plant of hybrid SV9441YG, or line ZGN-166-8042, asample of seed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-13239, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-13142,respectively.
 21. A plant produced by the method of claim
 20. 22. Theplant of claim 1, comprising a transgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22,wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consistingof male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pestresistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism andmodified protein metabolism.
 24. The plant of claim 1, comprising asingle locus conversion.
 25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the singlelocus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting ofmale sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 26. A method for producing a seed of a plant derived from atleast one of hybrid SV9441YG, or line ZGN-166-8042 comprising the stepsof: (a) crossing a zucchini plant of hybrid SV9441YG, or lineZGN-166-8042 with itself or a second zucchini plant; a sample of seed ofsaid hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-13239, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-13142, respectively; and (b)allowing seed of a hybrid SV9441YG, or line ZGN-166-8042-derivedzucchini plant to form.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprisingthe steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid SV9441YG, orZGN-166-8042-derived zucchini seed to yield additional hybrid SV9441YG,or line ZGN-166-8042-derived zucchini seed; (d) growing said additionalhybrid SV9441YG, or line ZGN-166-8042-derived zucchini seed of step (c)to yield additional hybrid SV9441YG, or line ZGN-166-8042-derivedzucchini plants; and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c)and (d) to generate at least a first further hybrid SV9441YG, or lineZGN-166-8042-derived zucchini plant.
 28. The method of claim 26, whereinthe second zucchini plant is of an inbred zucchini line.
 29. The methodof claim 27, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybridSV9441YG, or ZGN-166-8042-derived zucchini plant with a second zucchiniplant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 30. A plant part of theplant of claim
 7. 31. The plant part of claim 30, further defined as aleaf, an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 32. A method of producing azucchini seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or asecond zucchini plant and allowing seed to form.
 33. A method ofproducing a zucchini comprising: (a) obtaining a plant according toclaim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b)collecting a zucchini from the plant.